Here is the picture I promised. From left to right kneeling:

Cory Carpenter, with his nubby buck, Lee Carpenter, my brother Randy with the BIG BUCK, and Randy's Jessica holding up my brother Jeff's doe.

Standing in back:

Shane Deeley, Jeff's son and yours truly.

Quite a shot. Jeff took the picture so he is in others.

We will have LOTS of meat to butcher on Friday.





Today was a beautiful day weatherwise. It was still and the sun shone. I went to the 8:00AM mass and then spent the rest of the day putting hunting stuff away and cleaning up my desh and the house.

We had the chili that I had left out for Dick's Saturday dinner for supper. (He found something else that appealed to him before he found the chili yesterday.)

I watched the Extreme Makeover tonight. We don't usually but they featured the Koepke family from Dundee tonight and I was anxious to see it. Next time we are near Dundee we can drive by the house and then go see the restored Mill. The Makeover fixed that too because it was Matt Koepke's dream and they like to benefit communitee's as well as individuals. Matt Koepke always would say this to his family and I felt that it is worth repeating. They put it on a memorial in Dundee also. "There are lots of things to think about the but nothing to worry about."

Have a good week.

Mary 

Left the house at 5:15 AM to meet the hunters in the woods. We had a successful hunt. I didn't get one, AGAIN, but the party did well. I will tell the story.

To set the stage for those who might not be aware of hunting regulations. Hunters, at least in Wisconsin, wear blaze orange during deer hunting season for safety reasons. If you are ever out there, you will know why. The orange shows up no matter what the weather and from great distance.

About noon, I heard four shots coming from over to my left above the swamp and beyond Shane's spot. Right around where Cory sits. Next thing I see is a HUGE deer running into the breach between the woods and the swamp in front of Shane. Shane shoots and misses. (He knew he had missed but still felt he had to search for signs of blood because it was SO big and he was hoping against hope that he was wrong.) The deer whips around in back of the ridge across the swamp and worked its way back around to where Randy is sitting. He shot twice and hit it a killing shot but it did run for a bit and he was afraid he lost it. So he went and got Jeff to help him follow the blood trail. Shane was so antsy because he lost it that he had just arrived that Jeff's site to commiserate when Randy ran for help. He said he never saw Randy so outwardly excited in his whole life. Randy is usually calm and collected. They found it very quickly.

It is a 10 pointer and has to dress out at least at 200 lbs. It is the biggest deer the Deeley's have ever taken out of the Kettles. Wow.

Cory said to tell Bobbie that it came up towards him from right in front of her stand.

Now I want to tell you something really cute and then sign off so I can get ready for bed.

I decided at about 2:00 that I had had enough. I had only seen the big one and a doe that came up in back of me on top of the ridge and had posed in a totally unsafe shot. So I didn't.

So I walked around the side of the swamp to the clearing where the falling down fence that my great great grandfather built is. I took some pictures and then walked down to Shane to tell him that I was going to work my way to the road. He told me the story of the "great hunter" and said that - When I got to the fork in the trail, I should look to the left about 150 yards and there I would see a large brown fuzzy lump with a big smiling pumpkin standing next to it..

And I did. There was the biggest deer I've seen in my hunting years and Randy, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

He is so happy and keeps saying that he never thought he'd ever get a big buck and here it is. WOW. I'll send a picture tomorrow. I am too tired to try tonight.

Love

Mary

I hope that tomorrow turns out to be much like today. It was not too cold and there was no precipitation. Chelsea woke me up at 6:03AM and she was a very enthusiastic walker. I thought at first that she was, perhaps, a bit tired because she kept turning around before we got to the ends of the cul de sacs - but she just wanted to get to the park. She was very hungry too.

I think the worst is over. She still has to take her anti biotics for almost two weeks but she is OK.

Went to have lunch at the Dairy Queen with Marlene, Ceil, Barb, Mary and Joyce. We had a pleasant lunch and visit. We will not meet for two weeks because of Thanksgiving. Joyce told us that she had heard that a Kayla had been hurt in a rollover accident on the way to school that morning. The last name told us that it was Betty's grandaughter. She was taken to Sheboygan Memorial with non life threatening injuries. Certainly a relief. It was a hit and run. How can ANYONE do that and leave someone hurt.

I went to the new Plymouth Historical Museum opening tonight. I was SO impressed. When I was in there two weeks ago, I never would have guessed they could get it ready in time. It is very impressive. That is where Beth Dipple and I are going to have our first Irish program, a Christmas Tea with a harpist and Irish Cakes and comaradery.

While at the opening, I met Mark Kleinhans and his wife. Mark built the Tallgrass condos and also lives here. I mentioned to him that I love it there but miss my kitties. He and his wife got a funny look and said they see no reason why I shouldn't get them. Those by laws are intended to be guidelines and besides, cat's in a house, do not bother anyone. Mark's wife said that bylaws can be changed but who would know there are here. I also met Tom and Linda Phillips who live down the street. I knew Tom before as he is the principal at St. Mary School in Falls which is run by Blessed Trinity. He and Linda said - go get your kitties.

When I told Dick, he looked very surprised and gave me more hope than I have had in two months that I can perhaps get Oscar and Roxie back. This would make the house perfect as far as I am concerned. I figure we can put the litter box down in the basement, I am thinking in the guest bath. Anyway, Dick hasn[t said yes but he is considering. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could have them back.

We tried a Chicken Helper for supper tonight and it was really good.

I will be closing now as I need to get Dick's legs soaped and need to be in bed early so I am ready to go hunting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Love

Mary

It was an eventful day today. At least for Chelsea. She had her dentistry work done today and (poor little thing) had to have one of her molars removed. She is a bit demanding tonight. When she got home she drank and drank and drank. Probably didn't have a drop at the vets. So she is needing to go out a LOT. We think she is also in a bit of pain now that the anesthetic has worn ovv and she is feeling that hole in her gums.

Well, this will be the last time. She will be way to old when her teeth need cleaning again.

It was rather cold today. We had to add air to most of our tires , should have thought of THAT while it was still warm. We also went grocery shopping. I tried to think of everything we need for Thanksgiving as our next shopping day is supposed to BE Thanksgiving.

Today I made the cranberry relish and mixed the pie crust dough. My pie crust dough can be kept for quite a long time. It is a recipe that I got from my dear mother in law, Lil Johnston many years ago. We are going to have pumpkin pie and Figgy Hobbin for dessert on Thanksgiving.

Years ago when Bret and Bart were little. Turkey was for Thanksgiving. The Johnston's always had turkey for Christmas too. After a few years, we decided to spend Christmas at our own home so the kids could enjoy their gifts and all. One year Bart asked why we had to have turkey for Christmas too. He asked why we couldn't have a special meal like Crab or something. So from then on, we did. I would fix crab legs, shrimp and (for my ex and the boys) steamed clams (I couldn't stomach the clams myself. They are all right in chowder but not steamed.) It became a rather fun tradition.

We Kunerts eat whatever the cook decides to prepare on Christmas. It is fun. And we take turns with who has what each year.

Saturday I will go deer hunting. Wish me luck and dry weather.

Love

Mary

Dick had his appointment with Sue at the Clinic today. His count has dropped down from over 400 t0 180. It is supposed to be between 200 and 300 so we are getting close. She made a minor adjustment and we will go back in two weeks to check.

We stopped at Fleet Farm on the way home to pick up a hot seat for my hunting trip and a tire gauge. The one we found in the garage was not working and then later we found another one. So we seem to have three.

I spent most of the day catching up on phone calls and emails. Then this evening I went to Mead to see my friend Jean-Andrew a storyteller under the name of Storylore entertain a room full of toddlers. She is really fun.

Then home. Tomorrow our poor Chelsea is going to have some dental work done. She has it worse than we do. For one thing, she doesn't understand at all and for another they have to put her under and she will have to go through not eating after 9 this evening and then probably being a bit sick when she wakes up.

Thanksgiving is nearing. I am trying to pick up EVERYTHING we need tomorrow because the next week is - again -VERY busy. I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

Have I ever told you of the Thanksgivings in my previous life? We used to go out to the desert with the jeep club. I would cook our turkey dinner on the Sunday before and then take all the pieces for a dinner on Thanksgiving in the camper. Then on Saturday, the jeep club would roast a whole pig and a quarter of beef on a spit outside. We started in the wee hours of the morning and the guys monitored it all day sprinkling it with spices and pouring red wine on it. They had rigged up a bit spit with a generator to run it. During the day, Twila Heinze would supervise the making of fresh applesauce and beans and anyone who had an oven in their campers baked potatoes. Finally we would all line up and gorge ourselves . Then we would finish our meal with homemake ice cream. I remember one Thanksgiving when Bret stared at that pig going round and round over the fire and asked Orrin Nordin "Can it oink yet?' Orrin said he sure hoped not.


Love

Mary

This was a rather disjointed day. Dick did not really feel up to par and ended up taking an afternoon nap, which is very unusual.

He slept this morning until about 8 (of course, that does not factor in how little if any sleep he got during the night) Then we took out the trash and transported Chelsea to Kettle Moraine Veterinary Clinic to get updated on her shots and introduced to her new "health care" experts. Dr. Quilling confirmed that she does indeed have a heart murmer and feels that this is probably the reason for her seizures. He feels that since she is so alert and likes her walks that we will not medicate her. He has suggested that her teeth, obviously full of tarter, be cleaned as he has seen tooth infection cause a lot of trouble. Also had her nails cut as this is easier on me. I get so scratched up from her when she paws at me to get my attention or tell me that she loves me.

We left there and headed to Sheboygan Falls to take Mom some wine. I was amused when she said that at her card game yesterday she mentioned the "tragedy" that had occurred that morning when the wine crashed in the street. She found it funny that they all were so concerned until they heard the punch line.

Then home again.

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon mixing the meat and veggies and assembling and baking the pasties. (You bake them for 30 minutes then freeze them. To prepare you put the pastie on a greased cookie sheet in a preheated oven and bake, from frozen, for 50 minutes.) Since I was grinding stuff, I ground some extra carrots and made a carrot, pineapple, raisin salad. We love that and it lasts. I had quite a bit of the meat and veggie mixture left so I am going to make hash for supper tomorrow night. A pork,beef, potato, carrot, onion hash SHOULD taste mighty good.

Tonight I went over to St.John's and met Marlene and Ceil to attend Fr. Van Beek's Adult Education. They supply the bible and he speaks. He is a good preacher. Tonight's class was on infinity, light and always from above. I learned a lot. About Trinity, Jesus and have some really great reference notes. Did you know that Ruah means the Breath of God? It is a pretty word.

Now I am home and winding down. Dick took me out for dinner. We went to the Wilderness and I had liver and onions. Very tasty. too. Dick got lake perch and said it was good too. We always have so many leftovers. We brought home chili AND part of our entree.

Tomorrow morning we go to the Clinic and have Dick's blood checked. It will be interesting to see if the adjustment Sue made had corrected his count.

Have a good Wednesday.

Love


Mary

The snow was melting quite fast today and we did have some sunshine.

I went to Mass at St. John's for the first time as a parishioner. My friend Marlene and her husband Warren were there and Marlene introduced me to the pastor Dennis Van Beek. He does give a wonderful sermon. I do like the way he speaks before Mass to give you an idea of what to expect in the readings and how it will apply to your life. He is really good.

Each year he has a four lesson adult education series, one a month for four months. This year the first one starts on Tuesday. So I guess I joined at just the right time. Marlene is going and I will meet her there.

Jim and Michelle came over this afternoon and we played a couple of games of pool. I had only played once before in my whole life and did not do well. I did not do well this time either but I am sure that with practice I could be better. It was fun anyway and that is the most important thing.

I am going to make Pasties this week. I mixed the pastry together today. That has to chill for at least 24 hours so I figure that I can make them either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Listening to Jerry Aps on Saturday talk about his days growing up on a farm without power in their house brought back lots of memories to me. He mentioned that they would get a gallon on ice cream on Saturday and bring it back home to divide carefully into five pieces to be eaten all at once because they could not keep it in the ice box.

We did have a refrigerator, but it did not have a very impressive freezer compartment. It only held a try of ice cubes or so. So. Once a week when Mom and Dad came back from grocery shopping they would bring a gallon of neopolitan ice cream. We still can see Dad with a knife and all the plates carefully carving that ice cream up into EQUAL parts but still honoring each child's request for his or her favorite flavor. And he did it too.

That made me remember the time Mom opened the refrigerator and found a poor little kitten sitting on a shelf shivering. She started to remember other odd things that had appeared in the refrigerator and questioned Randy. Randy said that our course he had put it in there. He wanted to "save" it. Mother had used that term when whe put food away and he figured that a kitten was just as important.

Love

Mary

"Debra Johnson said that she likes shopping at the Dollar Palace because it is convenient and casual.
'I don't have to get all dressed up like I'm going to WalMart or something.' "

A redneck statement I received in an e-mail to day. Thought I would share because it was so funny.

When Chelsea and I went out for our walk this morning there was (and still is ) snow on the ground but the roads were plowed and not at all slippery. She liked rolling in the snow but I turned her back at the junction of Tall Grass and Highland because the sidewalk going around Lion's Park was not plowed AND I did not particularly want to walk through the snow in the park at the other end.

I met Ann Pirrung and Rosemary Eigenberger at the Parkview Restuarant in Falls before we went over to the library to listen to a talk by Jerry Aps, a historian who has written LOTS of books about rural Wisconsin and Wisconsin in general. He gives a great talk. I enjoyed it immensely. He is a friend of Irene Luedtke a published member of the Writer's Club. She came to hear him too. He spoke of the farm days in the late depression and WWII days which was very interesting to me as I had childhood memories of the latter.

Then I went to Mother's and had lunch with her and Jeff before Jeff and I went out to CountyF to check out our spots. Do you believe that next Saturday is opening day for deer hunting? Already!!! It was a lovely day to be out in the woods. We repaired his stand, mine and Shane's. Got out at about 4:30, a bit later than we planned and we had started in at 1:30 so we put in some time. It was still light when we got out so it was OK.

Somebody was supposed to be looking at the Hunter's Glen property today. We had someone on Wednesday too. The realtor that showed on Wednesday had not reported to ReMax as of yesterday. Hopefully one of the two will be interested. We keep praying and making sure that all looks good. On Tuesday we went over and I pulled out all the dead Marigolds from the front planter. Don't think I upturned St. Joseph. I will have to double check the next time we go.

All that fresh air is good for me.

Tomorrow I start officially as a member of St. John the Baptist here in Plymouth. I told Dick that none of the parishioners will even know unless I happen to run into someone that I do know. I have several acquaintances in the parish. I will have to call Lorraine Schaap and sign off of that prayer chain and get on the one at St. John's.

Guess that's all for now. Have a nice Sunday. It is supposed to warm up a bit in the next couple of days.

Love

Mary

First snowfall of the season and it came down with a vengeance. They said we would get about an inch but I am sure that there is more than that out there, at least in spots.

I did go to the bust up party at Rhine. Probably shouldn't have because I drove there during the very worst of the storm. But I did and had a good time. Sara had prepared ham with pineapple, Meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes and corn for the meal and Bill Olson brought his "world famous" homemade peach cobbler with icecream.

This was Lil Pippings day to win. She beat me by 5 points and deserved it because of one REALLY bad target that I shot a couple of weeks ago.

This noon I met Sheila Isaacson at Bublitz in Saukville to give her the four sweatshirts that I had made into jackets trimmed with the Celtic Women International plaid. We had a wonderful visit and a good lunch. I had a portabello mushroom sandwich (to die for) and a nice hearty cup of clam chowder. That was before the storm. On the way home, I stopped at Barb Mac Ewen's place to get my Mary Kay restocked.

Jack Palance died today at 87. I was reading the newsflash on the net and came accross this quote of his. I think it is great. He is referring to the one armed push ups that he was famous for when he was in his 70s.

"That's nothing, really," he said slyly. "As far as two-handed push-ups, you can do that all night, and it doesn't make a difference whether she's there or not."

What a rake. He was fun to watch and such a good actor.

Have a great Saturday. I am going to hear Jerry Aps speak at the Sheboygan Falls Library in the morning.

Mary

I am posting a bit early today because I am going downstairs to watch a Mary Higgins Clark movie that will be on from 7 to 9 and I want to go to bed as soon as it is over.

It was a busy day. We had an appointment with Dr. Hodous to get Dick' s feet looked at then we went to Saukville to NPS to get Dick fitted for insoles for his shoes to help keep the callouses from building up.

I was barely home from my walk this morning when the phone rang. It was Michelle. I had seen them leave when Chelsea and I got back from our walk so I was surprised to get this call. They had had an accident on Bluebird Lane. A deer "attacked" them. Apparantly they were heading for 57. Michelle got a glimpse of this dope running along side them. Then it veered towards the car and smashed the passenger side doors, the rear view mirror and the window shattered all over both of them.

Thank the Lord. Neither of them were hurt. They came home and switched cars and headed back to Milwaukee. The car is at Joe Van Horn for repair and they are home safe and sound. They had just payed off the car. Now Michelle is thinking that with new doors and all it will be like having a new car all over again. We might as well look at the good in things.

Here is a little story that appeared in Reader's Digest this month.

Taped to my friend's refrigerator was a "job sheet: for her kits.

"They have to complete all these chores before I hand out theie allowances," she explained.


Does it owrk?! I asked.

"Like a charm. I haven't paid in weeks." Becquet.com

Have a great Friday.

Mary

Today was the only day this week that I was able to stay home ALL day and was it great. A lady, Sally Isely from Nicolet Welcome Service came by this morning to bring us welcome to the community gifts - similar to Welcome Wagon. We got lots of nice things, including a few meals, a fee gallon of milke and even a bible from St. John's Lutheran Church.

Then this afternoon, I went out back, because it was SO beautiful, and I cleaned the path between the house and the park out a bit. I also pulled weeds from the area that is in back of the house with a fire pit and two benches. It was pretty overgrown and I figured if I got some of it now, it would be easier in the spring and we could really use it.

I also finished two of the sweatshirts for the Celtic Women. I hope to finish the other two before Friday so I can take them with me on Friday when I go to meet Sheila in Saukville.

I got the Sheboygan Falls News today. On the cover was a story about the Falls Senior Center Halloween. I read it because I know so many people that go there, including Mother. Mother was quoted. It said

Mary Deeley had on a T-shirt with an odd-looking goat.

'This is a Puca!' Deeley said. 'A puca is and Irish ghost. They are mischievious and have the ability to become anything they want to be whatever the situation."

So I called Mother to tell her that she is a celebrity. She was pleased. She had a busy day today. She went to the beauty parlor and then shopping at Evans. Ken took her. Usually Donna does, but Donna had to go to Milwaukee because Jessica twisted her ankle and they had to get it checked. It looks like it is just a sprain but Jessie is pretty disgusted and if it is anything like mine it will take forever to heal.

That's all Folks.

I am tired and can go to bed soon.

Mary

I am done with my Senior Saints committment. Today, I picked up the food for lunch at 9:00AM. Went to Blessed Trinity and set up the food and the tables. Marcie Eppers and Kathy Rau came early to help. It wasn't that I really needed the help but more hands and company make the job SO easy. Just before 11AM I walked over to accompany Mother to church for Mass. There were the approximate 3 dozen that I expected.

After Mass, we went down to the hall for lunch and a program. Jeff Jenkins, administrator for Pine Haven talked to us about a new project called Prairie Crossing which will start with a 40 unit minimum assisted living complex for Seniors in Sheboygan Falls quite near the Pig off of Bluebird Lane. It sounds very nice. The units will range from very small one bedroom units to some larger two bedroom units. Quite nice, with community dining available plus lots of other amenities. The lunch was quite good. I ordered Turkey and ham sandwiches on hard rolls, Auntie Em's potato salad (which is very good) and cookies. Everybody seemed to be pleased.

When I got home, Dick and I went to the City Hll to vote. They say that 80 % of the eligible voters are turning out. Probably because of the referendums. I am not happy with the way they are turning out. We also went to the Hunters Glen house to run water and I needed to pull the marigolds out of the front planter. Once they dry out they really look tacky. Tomorrow someone is looking at the house and we want it to look its best. Please pray that it sells soon.

Tomorrow is quiet. I should be able to stay home all day. Someone from a place called Nicolet Welcome service is coming by to bring a welcom packet "filled with helpful civic information and gift certificates". We'll see. It is supposed to get up into the 60s tomorrow and I want to go out back and cut some of the burdocks away from my path to Lion's Park. It will be easier to guide Chelse if it have it a bit clearer.

Have a good one your self.

Love

Mary.

Well, it was MONDAY. We are having a beautiful week, weather wise, BUT it was foggy tonight and I had to go to Rhine Plymouth for the monthly meeting. It was a rather heated meeting, as we reviewed the proposed constitution and had a couple of members who are feeling rather picky and then there are a couple of others who take some things very personally. Everybody sees what they do for the club but many consider their voluntary contributions should excuse them from the assigned hours that we all have to work.

Bible study was at 9:30AM and I followed that by meeting with Kathy Rau, the custodian at Blessed Trinity, to gather the plates, napkins and so on for the Senior lunch tomorrow. Then stopped to see Mother. She is feeling better but if the discomfort doesn't completely go away by the end of the week, we will talk about seeing her doctor to explore further.

This afternoon we did our grocery shopping because of the Lunch tomorrow. Then I picked up Market Day. I got a beautiful ham, cookies and some mini omelets for Dick.

Tomorrow is the election also. Thank heavens that will be over. It will be interesting to see how the two referendums on the ballot will go. I will be voting no on both. I definately oppose the death penalty and feel that we do not need an amendment to ban gay marriage. For all intents and purposes, Wisconsin has a law already banning it and I don't approve of Amendments that take rights away from people. I won't go into my reasons but I do have a lot of opinions on these matters.

I have a cute story. Marily Taylor, the Poet Lauriete of Milwaukee, who was one of the speakers at the Writer's Festival at Lakeland College, spoke of an African Safari she went on several years ago. She said that, to her horror, they slept in little mini tents right out on the ground with no fortifications or extra security and she could hear lions roar and stuff during the night. Her apprehension was ot lessened when the guide said that "They almost never harm humans."

Have a nice Tuesday and GET OUT AND VOTE. (Even if you don't agree with me.) Voting is one of our most valuable freedoms. Do it.

Mary

We seem to be heading into Indian Summer. It was warm today and is supposed to get even warmer, perhaps up in to the low 60s by mid week. And we have had our hard frost. So that means that everything is running a bit late.

This morning when Chelsea and I were on our walk, we (I really should say "I", Chelsea is not all that observant) saw a deer in the middle of Tallgrass Lane. She watched us for a while until Chelsea barked at a dog in a house, then jumped over some bushes, decided she didn't want to be there either so she ran back into the Park. The rest of the walk was rather dull.

Went to the 10:30 Mass at Blessed Trinity. This was my last Mass as a parishioner there. I will be presenting the Senior program on Tuesday, then I will be done. Tomorrow after Bible Study, Kathy and I will be sure there are plates, cups and coffee pots set up for the lunch.

A lady from St. John's called and had taken all the raffle prozes home with her. So Dick and I went and picked it up this afternoon. I got 6 videos, quite good ones too, and several nice Christmas Tree ornaments in a very pretty basket.

The Packers lost. My Fantasy football picks turned out pretty bad this week. I looked good for the first couple , but then Chicago lost and Dallas which really messed me up.

The election is on Tuesday, thank heavens. Everybody is sick to death of all the negative campaign adds and hearing about everything. I have made up my mind and will be glad that it is over with.

Jim and Michelle fixed the door to the wine cellar and put the storm door in the front door. Dick said that it only took a few minutes each. Would have taken us all day and lots of anxiety. Sure glad they are willing to help. They got a kitten from the Humane Society yesterday. He is a real cutie. He is black with a bit of white under his chin and all four paws are white. They named him Boots. His face looks like Sylvester in the comics. And can that little guy purr. He seems like a happly little fella.

Have a good week.

I talked to Bart and Barb. Barb still has her hear infection, (the doctor says that it is a fungal infection) but Bart sounds pretty good.

Guess that is all for now.

Mary

It was a cloudy day but still and the temperatures went up as high as 48. Quite a lovely day to be out and about.

I baked the pies for the turkey dinner. I made four. One will stay here for our dinner and the others I will take to Blessed Trinity when I go to Mass at 10:30. I will be picking up the dinners after Mass.

Mom wasn't feeling too well today. Jeff was there and he called because her ribs ached and she felt kind of dizzy. I called this evening. They did talk to the doctor and he said that she can wait to make an appointment next week if she is not feeling better. She said that the dizziness was gone already and she will just see how things go.

I went over to the Craft sale at St. John the Baptist church. I won one of the silent auction items, a cooking basket. It had baking and mixing bowls and utensils, including a cast aluminum bundt pan shaped like a rose. I also won a raffle prize with movies in it. I will pick that up on Monday during school hours. Kind of a lucky day for me.

DEEP THOUGHTS FOR THOSE WHO TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY.
>
>
> 1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.
>
> 2. A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
>
> 3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
>
> 4. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
>
> 5. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

Goodnight

Mary

I am so cold. Bobbie and I worked out at Rhine tonight. The clubhouse was actually warm enough but I just plain got chilled on the drive home. It was not a long enough drive to warm the car and I had to stop at 1st National to drop off the deposit from the club. As if I wasn't cold enough, I had to walk accross the street to drop the deposit in the night deposit.

It was an eventful day. I dropped off a couple of entries at Lakeland for the writing contest held in conjunction with the Festival, then went to Sheboygan Falls for a couple of errands including dropping off some copies of my book at the Research Center for sale. When I got back to Plymouth I had time to stop at St. John the Baptist church office to register as a member there. I was glad to see that my friend Marlene Schueffner was manning the office today. It is hard to come to a new church. I remember when I joined St. Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach and feeling SO alone because I knew nobody. At least in Plymouth, I know several people and will find my place sooner. I told Marlene that I was going to lay back for a bit before volunteering for much. I did tell her I would like to be a Communion Minister however. That only involves participating during the Mass and I am there anyway.

I finished that last two targets for the pistol league tonight. I am sure that Lil (my friend who is my competition) beat me this time. That's OK. We have fun anyway. And each league I get a bit better.

I got the current count for the Senior Event at Blessed Trinity. That will be my last project there. I ordered the lunch from the Pig in Falls. I am pleased to say that we have 26 people signed up. I ordered enough for 3 dozen as I am sure that a few will have signed up this afternoon and one or two on Monday.

Tomorrow will be quiet. I need to bake the pies for the turkey dinner AND I want to bake some bread. I want the smell of fresh bread in the house.

>
>Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:
>
>
>I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except
>numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are
>things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black
>Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like
>the UnitedCaucasianCollege Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment
>Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson
>will be knocking down your door.



Have a nice weekend.

Mary

This morning was very windy and cold. I went to Lakeland College for the Great Lakes Writers Festival. Jane, Ann, Sy and Sue from the Sheboygan County Writers club were also there. It was a nice time. At 11:00AM the two presenters Sebastian Matthews and Marilyn Taylor read some of their work to the entire group. Quite impressive.

Then, the writers club group all car pooled over to the Log Cabin for lunch and some visiting. At 2:00PM Sebastian and Marilyn did workshops for all who wished to attend. This is entirely free. Jane and I went to Marilyn's poetry workshop. She focused on word choice and diction. We got a nice web site for a thesaurus and did a few exercises that were fun. I like little exercises - we sometimes do them at club too. She had us write a poem using six of about 12 words that she had us list and also we "filled in the blanks" on two poems already published with some words blanked out that we got to fill in. That was fun too.

I will DO one here so you can see what we did. This was one that we had to choose words to involve the emotions. The original poem was Washing Sheets in July by a Jane Gentry. I do not have the words that SHE had in the blanks so you will have to put up with mine. I will put MY words in caps. My half of the room had to be kind of negative. The other side of the room had to be positive.

Against the white garage,
hollyhocks SPAR.
The sheets, wet, adhesive
as I hang them, smell
of SULPHER and MANURE SCENTED air.
Flags of order in the WANNING sun,
How they CONVULSE in the ANGRY breeze!
Watching them TWISTING on the line,
I STRUGGLE with and old LOST DREAM.

It is amazing how many diverse ideas can come out of a group.

Anyway, it was lots of fun.

I will also share the Cadfael Book of Days intry for today.

November 2nd. It is only that the step from perfectly ordinary things into the miraculous seems to me so small, almost accidental, that I wonder why it astonishes you at all, or why you trouble to reason about it. If it were reasonable it could not be miraculous, could it?

Ellis Peters

Have a great day tomorrow. I have tons to do.

Love

Mary

It was a holy day today and I went to church in Plymouth at St. John's. The church was packed. It was the school mass plus a lot of parishioners. Their priest DOES give a nice serman. I had always heard that. He directed it to the kids today but included the adults enough to make it interesting. He spoke of the Communion of Saints. Explaining that it is the saints in Heaven, the sould in Purgatory and all of us.

I called the harpest that Beth Dipple had given me the information on. She is available and will be here for an Irish Christmas at The Plymouth Historical Center on December 9 from 1:30 to 3:00PM. She sounds like fun. She will play the harp and regale us with stories of Irish Christmas customs. Her husband will be with her and he belongs to the Celtic American Church. I am so looking forward to talking to him. He might possible even be a good future speaker.

Every year I get ornaments for all the kids and their spouses. This afternoon, Dick was working at the dining room table so I decided it was go good time to wrap them. Don't be too impressed. These are the ONLY Christmas presents that we have so far. And I have them because they come out sometime in late August from Hallmark. BUT they are wrapped and I feel good about that.

We had tacos and tostadas for supper tonight. Hadn't had them in a long time and they really tasted good. I still have some of the banana cake which mad a great dessert.

I finished the prototype of the Celtic Women's sweatshirt jacket. It was easy and looks good.

Tomorrow I will be going to Lakeland College for a Writer's Festival. I am meeting some of the members of the Sheboygan Writers Club. We will have lunch together as well as attending the speakers talks. Should be fun.

Bobbie sent us an e-mail about our Oscar. He apparantly chased his tail around wildly for about 45 minutes one evening and had her very amused. Sure miss him. It is fun to hear about theie antics from Bobbie. I really appreciate the stories and the fact that she and Bill have them until we can get them back.

Take care.

Love

Mary

Well - Dick has finally fallen off the perfect wagon with his blood count. Sue was right. The anti biotics did goof it up. So he has to change the dosage for a bit and see her in two weeks to see if we have him back where he belongs.

Then we went grocery shopping, registered to vote and picked up his prescriptions. So it was another morning of running around.

The rest of the day we got to stay home. I checked out and make sure things in the freezer were labled and then made a cake with some bananas that I found in there.

Worked a bit on the quilt for Donna and on a sweatshirt jacket trimmed in the Celtic Women fabric. Whew. Quite a day.

Watched Dancing with the Stars and still enjoy it. I found out that I could vote for more than one so I voted for Emmit and for Joey. They were both really good tonight.

Today is the official Halloween. As I said Plymouth had their trick or treat on Sunday. We didn't have anyone come anyway. Halloween is the eve before All Saints Day and traditionally the night that the bad spirits roam the earth.

Tomorrow is a holy day and I will be going to 8:00AM at St. John's.

Mother and I were discussing All Souls Day at lunch yesterday. (We both remembered the day incorrectly. We were thinking that is was today, but it is the day AFTER All Saint's Day.) Anyway, when we were young we were told that on All Soul's Day, if one went into church and said 6 Our Fathers you saved a soul. So we used to go to church and pop in and out of church saying 6 Our Fathers each time so that we could save LOTS of souls.

I think that ranks right up there with Pagan Babies. We would save our money for the Pagan Baby drive at St. Mary School. Everytime $5 was collected we had saved a baby. We even got to pick the gender and name it. Such a deal.


Never knock on death's door........ Ring the doorbell and run. He hates that.


Til tomorrow

Mary

We had a BEAUtiful day today. The highest temperature I saw was 59 this afternoon. What a nice break. It has been unseasonably cold this fall. Tomorrow a cold front is coming in and it is going to drop back down to the 40s. But today was a treasure.

Dick got Chelsea out of the bedroom this morning and shut the door so we managed to get her out on her walk at 6:00AM STANDARD time. Much better than 5:00AM. It was even light. I LIKE walking when it is light. So does Chelsea but of course she doesn't understand that time has a lot to do with it.

Bible Study went well. We were discussing Sunday's readings which are focusing on the Great Commandment. To love God first and then to love your fellow man. Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing in the world, is it? Not everybody is easy to love. And it is not always easy to remember that God comes first. We are faced every day with issues that are bombarding us constantly.

After that I picked up Mom and we did a lot of things. We picked up a packet for Mom to use to apply for the lifeline necklace, got her blood pressure checked, (her reading was really good 168/68 so she is to stay on the medication and same dosage for the time being). Then stopped at the Mall at Mary Lee's where Eileen had two books for Mom and Mom bought a present for her bridge club gift exchange. I gave Eileen the pattern for the spider web wall hanging and picked up two Christmas ornaments.

But we weren't done yet.

After leaving Eileen, we went to Applebee's for lunch. A good lunch if I do say so. Our final stop was back at the Clinic where her Ear specialist cleaned and adjusted her hearing aids. Then home. After dropping her off, I did stop at Walgreens to pick up prescriptions for Dick. Now I find out that they were partial prescriptions and we have to stop again tomorrow. Ick.

Tonight was the Rhine Plymouth Board Meeting. I was home by 8:15 or so. Good thing because I am tired and want to be done.

I read something in a magazine today. It was in a bunch of quotes that people attributed to someone who really had an influence in their life. So here it is.

"Someone who is priceless, can't be worthless."

That is all of you.

Mary